RAS question
Kashi Mahajanapada had its capital at:
Correct answer: (D) Varanasi.
Kashi Mahajanapada had its capital at Varanasi, also known as Banaras.
Explanation
Kashi was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, and its capital was Varanasi or Banaras. eGyanKosh, Unit 5 places Kashi in the south-eastern part of present-day Uttar Pradesh and states that Varanasi, its capital, stood at the confluence of the Varuna and Asi rivers. That geographical clue also explains the name Varanasi. The city was known for knowledge, crafts and trade, which fits the standard explanation that Kashi was one of the more prosperous Mahajanapadas. Its later political decline followed conflict with Kosala: Kashi was defeated and eventually absorbed by Kosala.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Taxila was associated with Gandhara; Takshashila was the capital of Gandhara, not Kashi.
- (B) Rajagriha, or Rajgir, was the capital of Magadha, so it cannot be the capital of Kashi.
- (C) Kaushambi was the capital of Vatsa, whereas Kashi's capital was Varanasi.
Concept
This tests the standard ancient-history map of the sixteen Mahajanapadas and their capitals. RAS repeats this area because capital-location pairs help link political geography, trade centres and later inter-state conflicts in early historic India.